Wampum

Last week, I pointed out this email, one of the hundreds released during the Abramoff Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearings from September, 2004 until November, 2005. I asked why the Senate Indian Affairs Committee Chairman, John McCain (R-AZ), had redacted the names of two Senators and two Congressmen who had attended a Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy (CREA) reception for Interior Secretary Norton, a reception also attended by Jack Abramoff.

Well, so far, I haven't gotten any answers (calling Dorgan's office tomorrow), but I have narrowed down the potential Senate candidates.

Fortunately for our purposes, CREA president Italia Federici liked to use fixed width type in her emails.

As one can see, the redacted name consisted of eight letters. In 2001, there were seven Republican Senators whose names fit that criteria:

Ben Nighthorse Campbell
Pete Dominici
Chuck Grassley
Rick Santorum
Pete Jeff Sessions (Thanks, Dwight)
Fred Thompson
Strom Thurmond

I think we can rule out ole Strom, as he could barely move at that point, let alone socialize at Julie Finley's home.

How about the other name?

Six lettered Republican Senators? The list is a little longer:

Allard
Chafee
DeWine
Ensign
Inhofe
McCain
Shelby
Thomas
Warner

I think, though we can fairly confidently scratch Chafee and McCain off the list.

Well, that narrows it down to 13 Senators. So which of those would have reason or interest to attend a reception for newly confirmed Norton?

Once again, call and demand the names be released:

Committee on Indian Affairs
United States Senate
838 Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Phone: (202) 224-2251

Or call the Senators themselves (well, their schedulers) and ask if they attended the reception. And call Senator McCain's office and ask why felt it was necessary to redact the names of his colleagues. If they're innocent of wrongdoing, what do they have to hide?